Sleeves for beverage and food containers

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to sleeves for containers for beverages and/or food, and methods for using a sleeve on a container. A sleeve of the current invention, in certain embodiments, includes a wall, wherein said wall comprises a wall body and an elastic strip, for example, for holding utensils while a container is placed into the sleeve. In certain other embodiments, a sleeve of the invention comprises a wall and a bottom.

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/134,548, filed Mar. 17, 2015, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

1.0 FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to sleeves for containers for beverages and/or food.

2.0 BACKGROUND

Sleeves may be used to insulate containers so their contents may be kept at a desired temperature and so the containers may be easier to handle if the contents is very hot or cold. Jars, cans, bottles, glasses, mugs, and cups are examples of containers used to hold beverages and other liquids, as well as other food items. Jars include Mason jars, Kilner jars, Leifheit jars, and other jars. Typically, jars are made of glass and their surface is slippery. Using a sleeve on a jar, or another container made of a slippery material, can be problematic in view of the dimensions and the surface properties of jars.

It would be desirable to have sleeves for use with jars, cans, bottles, glasses, mugs, and cups that fit any of these containers of interest, and that do not easily slip off the container. It would also be desirable to have sleeves for use with jars, cans, bottles, glasses, mugs, and cups that can hold utensils when the sleeves are used on the container, for example, utensils like a spoon, a fork, a knife, a straw, chop sticks, and other kinds of utensils. The current invention describes such sleeves.

3.0 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The current invention, in certain embodiments, relates to sleeves for beverage containers and food containers, and methods for using a sleeve on a beverage container and a food container. In certain embodiments, a sleeve of the current invention fits on a container holding a liquid and/or food. In certain preferred embodiments, a sleeve of the current invention comprises a wall. A wall of a sleeve of the current invention, in certain preferred embodiments, comprises a wall body and an elastic strip. In certain embodiments, a sleeve of the invention comprises a wall and a bottom. In a preferred embodiment, a sleeve of the invention comprises an elastic strip made of a material that is elastic predominantly in one direction. An elastic material of a sleeve of the current invention, in certain embodiments, is located on the side of a container when said sleeve is fit onto said container. A sleeve of the current invention, in certain embodiments, may fit onto any beverage or food container of interest so that the beverage or food container fits snugly inside the sleeve with or without stretching the sleeve. A sleeve of the current invention, in certain embodiments, fits onto a jar, a can, a bottle, a glass, a mug, and/or a cup of interest. A jar may be, for example, a Mason jar, a Kilner jar, a Leifheit jar, or another type of jar.

4.0 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be better understood by reading the Detailed Description of the various embodiments with reference to the accompanying figures.

FIG. 1 shows a side view of a sleeve according to certain embodiments of the invention, with a jar 5 inside the sleeve and with an elastic strip 2 shown from the side.

FIG. 2 shows a side view of a sleeve according to certain embodiments of the invention, with a jar 5 inside the sleeve and looking straight at an elastic strip 2.

FIG. 3 shows a side view of a sleeve according to certain embodiments of the invention, with a jar 5 inside the sleeve and looking straight at a closure strip 7.

FIG. 4 shows a top down view of a sleeve according to certain embodiments of the invention, showing the top view of an elastic strip 2, a closure strip 7, and a bottom 3 with sticky material 8.

FIG. 5 shows a bottom view of a sleeve according to certain embodiments of the invention, showing the bottom view of an elastic strip 2 and a closure strip 7.

FIG. 6 shows a side view of a cross-section of a sleeve according to certain embodiments of the invention, with an elastic strip 2 shown from the side and with sticky material 8 on the inside of the wall body 1.

FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of a sleeve according to certain embodiments of the invention, with a jar 5 inside the sleeve and with a spoon 9 inserted between an elastic strip 2 and the jar 5.

FIG. 8 shows a side view of a sleeve according to certain embodiments of the invention, with a jar 5 inside the sleeve and with a spoon 9 inserted between an elastic strip 2 and the jar 5 and by looking straight at the elastic strip 2.

FIG. 9 shows a side view of a sleeve according to certain embodiments of the invention, with a jar 5 inside the sleeve and with a spoon 9 inserted between an elastic strip 2 and the jar 5 and by looking straight at the elastic strip 2. The outlines of the spoon 9 under the elastic strip 2 are shown in broken lines.

5.0 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to sleeves for beverage and/or food containers, for example, a jar, a can, a bottle, a glass, a mug, a cup, or any other kind of container that can be used to hold a beverage and/or food. In certain preferred embodiments, a sleeve of the current invention comprises a wall. A wall of a sleeve of the current invention, in certain preferred embodiments, comprises a wall body and an elastic strip. In certain embodiments, a sleeve of the invention comprises a wall and a bottom. The wall of a sleeve of the current invention, in certain embodiments, has a length that travels around the circumference of a container that is in the sleeve, and a height that measures from a lower to a higher point along the vertical axis of a container that is in the sleeve.

A wall of a sleeve of the current invention, in certain embodiments, has a length that is sufficient to travel the outside circumference of a container, while holding the container snugly. In certain embodiments, the length of a wall of a sleeve of the current invention is the same as the outside circumference of the container for which the sleeve is intended. In certain embodiments, a wall of a sleeve of the current invention fits around a container of interest, so that the container maybe inserted into the sleeve and so that the sleeve fits snugly around the container, but preferably without having to stretch the wall of the sleeve or without having to stretch the wall of the sleeve more than 1 percent, or more than 2 percent, or more than 4 percent, or more than 8 percent, or more than 16 percent in any dimension.

In certain preferred embodiments, a sleeve of the current invention is designed to fit on a jar, for example, a Mason jar. The circumference of a Mason jar depends on the size of the jar and whether it is a regular mouth or a wide mouth Mason jar. The circumferences for Mason jars are as follows: 16 ounces (oz) jar, regular mouth, 10.19 inches (25.88 centimeter (cm)) circumference (1 inch equals 2.54 cm); 32 oz jar, regular mouth, 12.13 inches (30.81 cm) circumference; 16 oz jar, wide mouth, 10 inches (25.4 cm) circumference; 24 oz jar, wide mouth, 10.25 inches (26.04 cm) circumference; 32 oz jar, wide mouth, 12 inches (30.48 cm) circumference; 64 oz jar, wide mouth, 14.5 inches (36.83 cm) circumference. In certain embodiments, a wall of a sleeve of the invention has a length of 25.4-36.83 cm, or about 25.4-36.83 cm, or 20-40 cm, or about 20-40 cm, or 25.4-26.4 cm, or about 25.4-26.4 cm, or 25.88-26.88 cm, or about 25.88-26.88 cm, or 26.04-27.04 cm, or about 26.04-27.04 cm, or 30.48-31.48 cm, or about 30.48-31.48 cm, or 30.81-31.81 cm, or about 30.81-31.83 cm, or 36.83-37.83 cm, or about 36.83-37.83 cm.

A wall body of a sleeve of the current invention, in certain embodiments, has a height of 5-15 cm, or about 5-15 cm, or 6-12 cm, or about 6-12 cm, or 7-10 cm, or about 7-10 cm. A wall body of a sleeve of the current invention, in certain embodiments, has a thickness of 0.5-10 millimeters (mm), or about 0.5-10 mm, or 1-5 mm, or about 1-5 mm, or 2-4 mm, or about 2-4 mm.

A wall body of a sleeve of the current invention, in certain embodiments, comprises a closure strip. A closure strip, in certain embodiments, connects two or more sections of the wall body, preferably resulting in the sleeve having a shape suitable to hold a container the sleeve is designed for, for example, a jar, a can, a bottle, a glass, a mug, a cup, or any other kind of container that can be used to hold a beverage and/or food. A closure strip, in certain embodiments, runs along the entire edge of a wall body section, or 30-100 percent of the edge, or 50-100 percent, or 70-100 percent, or 50-80 percent, or 80-100 percent, or 90-100 percent. A closure strip, in certain embodiments, runs along the edge of a wall body section in a continuous manner, an intermittent manner, an uninterrupted manner, an interrupted manner, or in another manner. A closure strip, in certain embodiments, connects sections of the wall body through gluing, stitching, sewing, clamping, stapling, or a mixture of any two, three, four or more thereof, or by any other method. In a closure strip, in certain embodiments, edges of sections of the wall body may overlap or not overlap.

In certain embodiments, a wall body of a sleeve of the current invention comprises sections that are sticky so that a container in the sleeve does not easily slip out of the sleeve. A sticky material for a sleeve of the current invention is preferably located on the inside of the wall body so that it can contact a container in the sleeve. In certain embodiments, a sticky material may be worked into the wall body of the sleeve in lines, dots, squares, patches, or any other way. The sticky material may be arranged in stripes, circles, squares, rectangles, or any combination thereof, or any other pattern, including a random pattern. Preferably, a sleeve of the invention with a sticky material in the inside surface of its wall body, has the sticky material in more than one location so that a container inside the sleeve would be in contact with the sticky material from more than one direction. In certain preferred embodiments, a wall body of a sleeve of the invention has a sticky material in 5-100 percent of the circumference when viewing the sleeve from the top or bottom, or about 5-100 percent, or 10-100 percent, or about 10-100 percent, or 20-100 percent, or about 20-100 percent, or 30-100 percent, or about 30-100 percent, or 40-100 percent, or about 40-100 percent, or 50-100 percent, or about 50-100 percent, or 70-100 percent, or about 70-100 percent, or 50-80 percent, or about 50-80 percent. In certain preferred embodiments, a wall body of a sleeve of the invention has a sticky material that covers a fraction of the interior surface of the wall body, or 5-100 percent of the interior surface of the wall body, or about 5-100 percent, or 10-90 percent, or about 10-90 percent, or 20-80 percent, or about 20-80 percent, or 30-70 percent, or about 30-70 percent, or 40-60 percent, or about 40-60 percent.

A wall of a sleeve of the current invention, in certain embodiments, includes an elastic strip. An elastic strip, in certain embodiments, is made of an elastic material. In a preferred embodiment, the wall body is non-elastic or substantially non-elastic. An elastic strip of a sleeve of the invention is preferably attached to the wall body of the sleeve. In a preferred embodiment, an elastic strip in a wall of a sleeve of the invention is elastic in one direction, but non-elastic or substantially non-elastic in a direction perpendicular thereto. The direction in which an elastic strip in a wall of a sleeve of the invention is elastic is preferably the direction of the horizontal axis of the sleeve (in other words, parallel to the bottom of the sleeve, if the sleeve has a bottom, when a container is inside the sleeve).

In a preferred embodiment, an elastic strip of a sleeve of the invention has a total length of 5-20 cm or about 5-20 cm, or 7-15 cm or about 7-15 cm, or 9-12 cm or about 9-12 cm. In another preferred embodiment, an elastic strip of a sleeve of the invention has a total width of 1-10 cm or about 1-10 cm, or 1.5-5 cm or about 1.5-5 cm, or 2-4 cm or about 2-4 cm, or 2.5-3.5 cm, or about 2.5-3.5 cm. The total width of an elastic strip of a sleeve of the invention includes, in certain embodiments, an overlap section on one or both side edges of the elastic strip, which overlap with the wall body so the elastic strip and the wall body can be attached to each other, for example, through sewing, gluing, staples, or any other kind of means to attach the elastic strip and the wall body to each other. An overlap section, in certain embodiments, is 0-15 mm in width, or about 0-15 mm, or 1-10 mm, or about 1-10 mm, or 2-8 mm, or about 2-8 mm, or 3-6 mm, or about 3-6 mm. An overlap section, in certain embodiments, runs along the entire edge where the elastic strip engages the wall body, or 50-100 percent of the entire edge, or 80-100 percent.

In another preferred embodiment, an elastic strip of a sleeve of the invention is looped into a double layer at its top, so that the top 1-6 centimeters (cm) or about 1-6 cm of the elastic strip is double layered, or 2-5 cm or about 2-5 cm, or 3-4 cm or about 3-4 cm. In a preferred embodiment, a loop of an elastic strip of a sleeve of the invention is non-elastic or substantially non-elastic along the vertical axis of the sleeve (in other words, perpendicular to the bottom of the sleeve, if the sleeve has a bottom, when a container is inside the sleeve). A loop of an elastic strip of a sleeve of the invention, in certain embodiments, can be used to hold the sleeve, with or without a container in the sleeve; or to attach something to the sleeve, for example, through clipping, tying, taping, or in any other way; or to attach the sleeve, with or without a container in the sleeve, to something, for example, to a belt, to pants, to a jacket, to clothing, to a vehicle, to a bicycle, to a car, to gear for walking, hiking, or mountaineering, or to something else.

A wall body of a sleeve of the invention is preferably made of a material that is sufficiently insulating so a container with a hot or cold liquid can be handled during ordinary use. A wall body of a sleeve of the invention is preferably made of any one, two, three, four, or more of the following materials: wool, any kind of felt, non-woven felt-like materials, heatset carpet, leather, rigid plastic, flexible plastic, expanded foam, closed cell foam, open cell foam, organic fabric, synthetic fabric, silicone, natural rubber, synthetic rubber, thermoplastic elastomers, cork, wood, steam-bent wood, kerf-bent wood, wood-like materials, paper products, and/or plasticized paper products. A wall body of a sleeve of the invention may also be made of any other material or materials with properties that are similar or substantially similar to those of any one of the materials mentioned or suggested herein.

An elastic strip of a sleeve of the current invention in certain embodiments is made of a material that is sufficiently elastic so that a utensil may be inserted between the elastic strip and a container in the sleeve. An elastic strip of a sleeve of the invention is preferably made of any one, two, three, four, or more of the following materials: elastic, flat elastic, non-flat elastic, profiled elastic, braided elastic, knitted elastic, woven elastic, cord, elastic cord, flexible cord, a cord or elastic that is threaded back and forth between edges that are being linked together, rubber product, springs, plastic springs, metal springs, rubber springs, molded springs, chemically reduced springs, additive manufactured material, 3d-printed material, 3d-printed additive manufactured material and/or machined profiles allowing expansion of material (for example, like a bellows). An elastic strip of a sleeve of the invention may also be made of any other material or materials with properties that are similar or substantially similar to those of any one of the materials mentioned or suggested herein.

In certain embodiments, a sleeve according to the current invention comprises a bottom. In certain other embodiments, a sleeve according to the current invention does not comprise a bottom. A bottom of a sleeve of the current invention, in certain embodiments, is located below a container that is in the sleeve. A bottom, in certain embodiments, is made of the same material as the wall body of the sleeve, or a different material chosen from the same types of materials from which the wall body may be made. A bottom is of the same thickness as the wall body or of a different thickness than selected for the wall body. In certain embodiments, a bottom may include a sticky material, like the wall body or a different sticky material, preferably so that the sticky material would located on the inside of the sleeve and preferably in contact with a container that is in the sleeve.

A bottom, in certain embodiments, does not extend beyond the footprint of a beverage container for which the sleeve is designed. A bottom may be of any shape, for example, a circle, a square, a triangle, a rectangle, an irregular shape, or any other shape.

In certain embodiments, a bottom is attached through a connection strip to the wall body and/or to the elastic strip of a sleeve of the invention, or through one connection strip, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, or more connection strips. A connection strip, in certain embodiments, is made of the same material as the wall body and the bottom.

In certain embodiments, a sleeve of the invention comprises a bottom with a connection strip attached thereto and with the wall body also attached to the connection strip. In certain embodiments, a bottom, one or more connection strips, and a wall body of a sleeve of the current invention may be made of one piece, or of more than one piece. In certain embodiments, a sleeve of the invention comprises a bottom with two connection strips attached thereto and with half the wall body attached to each of the connection strips. In certain embodiments, a bottom, two connection strips, and two half segments of a wall body of a sleeve of the current invention may be made of one piece, or of more than one piece.

Sleeves according to certain embodiments of the current invention are further exemplified in the figures. In FIG. 1 there is shown a sleeve according to certain embodiments of the invention with a jar 5 in it. FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of a sleeve according to certain embodiments with a wall body 1 and an elastic strip 2 with a loop in its top section viewed from the side. Also shown are a bottom 3 and a connection strip 4.

FIG. 2 shows a side view of a sleeve according to certain embodiments of the invention, with a jar 5 inside the sleeve and looking straight at an elastic strip 2. Also shown are a wall body 1, a bottom 3, connection strips 4, and overlap sections 6, where the wall body 1 is connected to the elastic strip 2.

FIG. 3 shows a side view of a sleeve according to certain embodiments of the invention, with a jar 5 inside the sleeve and looking straight at a closure strip 7 where sections of the wall body 1 are connected. Also shown are a wall body 1, a bottom 3, and connection strips 4.

FIG. 4 shows a top down view of a sleeve according to certain embodiments of the invention, showing the top view of an elastic strip 2, a closure strip 7, and a bottom 3 with sticky material 8. Also shown are a wall body 1, and connection strips 4.

FIG. 5 shows a bottom view of a sleeve according to certain embodiments of the invention, showing the bottom view of an elastic strip 2 and a closure strip 7. Also shown are a wall body 1, a bottom 3, connection strips 4, and overlap sections 6.

FIG. 6 shows a side view of a cross-section of a sleeve according to certain embodiments of the invention, with an elastic strip 2 with a loop in its top section viewed from the side and with sticky material 8 on the inside of the wall body 1. Also shown are a bottom 3 and a connection strip 4.

FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of a sleeve according to certain embodiments of the invention, with a jar 5 inside the sleeve and with a spoon 9 inserted between an elastic strip 2 and the jar 5. Also shown are a wall body 1, a bottom 3, a connection strip 4, and a closure strip 7.

FIG. 8 shows a side view of a sleeve according to certain embodiments of the invention, with a jar 5 inside the sleeve and looking straight at an elastic strip 2. Also shown is a spoon 9 inserted between the elastic strip 2 and the jar 5, a wall body 1, a bottom 3, connection strips 4, and overlap sections 6.

FIG. 9 shows a side view of a sleeve according to certain embodiments of the invention shown in FIG. 8, but further illustrating the outlines of the spoon 9 shown in broken lines under the elastic strip 2. Parts of a spoon 9, or any other utensil, under an elastic strip 2 may not be visible in a sleeve according to the invention, and FIG. 9 is provided merely for purposes of illustration.

In certain embodiments, a wall body of a sleeve of the current invention may be made from a felt-like heatset non-woven carpet, produced from recycled plastics. In certain embodiments a wall body of the sleeve is made of single or multiple combinations of other plastics, for example, polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene, high-density polyethylene, low-density polyethylene, polyethylene, plastarch material (thermoplastic made from modified cornstarch). In certain other embodiments, a wall body of a sleeve of the invention is made of less common non-food safe plastics, for example, polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride, parkesine, bakelite, polyester, polyvinylidene chloride, high impact polystyrene, polyamides (nylons), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, polyethylene/acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, polycarbonate, polycarbonate/acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, polyurethanes, melamine formaldehyde, phenolics, polyetheretherketone, polyetherimide, polylactic acid, polymethyl methacrylate, polytetrafluoroethylene, urea-formaldehyde.

In certain other embodiments, a wall body of a sleeve of the current invention is made of non-plastic materials, for example, stainless steel, low-carbon medical-grade stainless steel (304L or 316L), treated stainless steel (coated, painted, chemically plated, heat treated, thermally sprayed), aluminum (coated, painted, chemically plated, anodized, heat treated, thermally sprayed), steel (coated, painted, chemically plated [i.e., chromed, etc], heat treated, thermally sprayed) silicone rubber, natural rubber, latex, felt, wood, leather, ceramic materials, porcelain, glass and glass-like materials, fiberglass, carbonfiber, and cork.

A sleeve of the current invention, in certain embodiments, is manufactured by a process known in the art, for example, components could be injection molded, liquid molded (like in the case of silicone), vacuum formed, thermoformed, stretch-blow molded, compression molded, calendering, transfer molded, laminated, fiberglass molded, pultruded, filament wound, rotational molded, manually molded, slip cast, hand burnished, hand formed, ground, filed, turned, cast (die, sand, shell, spin, investment, centrifugal), extruded, rolled, rubber pad formed, sheared, superplastic formed, hydroformed, coined, decambered, deep drawn, flowformed, spun, stamped, progressive die stamped, fashioned from other existing products, retrofit, waterjet cut, EDM, sawed, chiseled, milled/machined, forged, light-activated resin hardening, sun-baked, UV cured, chemically cured, dried.

In certain embodiments of the invention, methods are provided for insulating a beverage container with a sleeve of the current invention. A method of the current invention, in certain embodiments, comprises placing a container into a sleeve of the current invention. In certain other embodiments, a method of the invention comprises inserting a utensil into the space between a sleeve of the current invention and a container, for example, a knife, a fork, a spoon, a straw, chopsticks, or any other kind of utensil. In certain other embodiments, a method of the invention comprises using a beverage container with a sleeve of the current invention for consuming a beverage or anything else.

In certain other embodiments, a method of the invention comprises holding a loop of a sleeve of the invention, with or without a container in the sleeve, for example, by putting a finger through the loop. In certain other embodiments, a method of the invention comprises attaching a loop of a sleeve of the invention, with or without a container in the sleeve, to something, for example, to a belt, to pants, to a jacket, to clothing, to a vehicle, to a bicycle, to a car, to gear for walking, hiking, or mountaineering, or to something else. In certain other embodiments, a method of the invention comprises attaching a loop of a sleeve of the invention, with or without a container in the sleeve, through clipping, tying, taping, or in any other way, to something, for example, to a belt, to pants, to a jacket, to clothing, to a vehicle, to a bicycle, to a car, to gear for walking, hiking, or mountaineering, or to something else.

In describing the preferred embodiments of the present invention illustrated in the Figures, specific terminology is employed for the sake of clarity. The invention, however, is not intended to be limited to the specific terminology so selected, and it is to be understood that each specific element includes all technical equivalents which operate in a similar manner to accomplish a similar purpose.

The present invention is not to be limited in scope by the specific embodiments described herein, which are intended as single illustrations of individual aspects of the invention, and functionally equivalent methods and components are within the scope of the invention. Indeed, various modifications of the invention, in addition to those shown and described herein, will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the foregoing description. Such modifications are intended to fall within the scope of the appended claims. All cited publications, patents, and patent applications are herein incorporated by reference in their entirety for any purpose. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A sleeve for a beverage container comprising a wall, a bottom and a connection strip; wherein said wall comprises a wall body, a sticky material, and an elastic strip; wherein said elastic strip is elastic in a horizontal direction but not a vertical direction; and wherein said connection strip connects the bottom to the wall.
 2. The sleeve according to claim 1, wherein said sleeve is designed to fit on a jar.
 3. The sleeve according to claim 1, wherein said sleeve is designed to fit on a Mason jar.
 4. The sleeve according to claim 1, wherein said sleeve is designed to fit on a regular mouth Mason jar.
 5. The sleeve according to claim 1, wherein said sleeve is designed to fit on a wide mouth Mason jar.
 6. The sleeve according to claim 1, wherein said wall further comprises a closure strip.
 7. The sleeve according to claim 1, wherein said sleeve comprises an overlap section.
 8. The sleeve according to claim 1, wherein said elastic strip further comprises a loop.
 9. The sleeve according to claim 1, wherein said bottom comprises a sticky material.
 10. A method for using a beverage container comprising placing said beverage container in a sleeve according to claim
 1. 11. The method according to claim 10, wherein said sleeve is designed to fit on a Mason jar.
 12. The method according to claim 10, wherein said sleeve is designed to fit on a Mason jar.
 13. The method according to claim 10, wherein said sleeve is designed to fit on a regular mouth Mason jar.
 14. The method according to claim 10, wherein said sleeve is designed to fit on a wide mouth Mason jar.
 15. The method according to claim 10, wherein said wall further comprises a closure strip.
 16. The method according to claim 10, wherein said sleeve comprises an overlap section.
 17. The method according to claim 10, wherein said elastic strip further comprises a loop.
 18. The method according to claim 10, wherein said bottom comprises a sticky material. 